Comparison of Various Properties of a Silorane Based Dental Composite with Two Methacrylate Based Dental Composites

The synthesis of a new monomer system named silorane (obtained from the reaction of oxirane and siloxane molecules) gave way to the production of a novel low shrinkage silorane based composite. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare some physical properties of a silorane based composite (Filtek Silorane, 3MESPE) to those of two well-known low shrinkage methacrylate-based composites (Filtek Supreme XT, 3MESPE; Esthet X HD, Dentsply). The study also includes the effect of external media (food simulating solutions; distilled water, artificial saliva, 25% ethanol, coconut oil and Coke) on the three composites. Methods: Cured samples underwent water absorption (with immersion in food simulating solutions) and desorption. The data were analysed; the water absorption and desorption profiles were mapped, the diffusion coefficients and solubility of each sample were calculated. Curing efficiency was measured on the top and bottom surfaces of cured composite samples using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Finally, the temperature profile during polymerisation of each composite sample was mapped, allowing the calculation of the sample‘s maximum exotherm. Results: From the results obtained from these experiments, overall, the properties of Filtek Silorane are comparable with those of Filtek Supreme XT and Esthet X HD

Tensile Strength of Novel Experimental Hydrophilic Vinyl Polysiloxane Impression Materials Compared to Control and Commercial VPS Impression Materials

Objective: To measure the tensile strength of novel experimental hydrophilic (medium bodied) vinyl polysiloxane impression materials developed from ab initio in comparison to control and commercial vinyl polysiloxane impression materials. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted at the Department of Oral Growth and Development, Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, UK from 1st Oct 2010 to 28th February 2014. Five novel experimental (medium bodied) VPS impression materials (Exp-I, II, III, IV and V) were developed and evaluated for their effect as crosslinking agent and surfactant on the tensile strength and percent elongation-at-break in comparison to control and three commonly used commercial (medium bodied) VPS impression materials (Aquasil Ultra Monophase, Elite HD Monophase, Extrude. These properties were evaluated using Tenius Olsen (mechanical testing machine). Results: Aquasil Ultra Monophase (Aq M) had a significantly higher Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) compared to all commercial and Experimental VPS. Although Exp-III showed the lowest UTS among all the materials but this was only significant for Aq M. On comparing Exp-I (control) with Exp-II, after adding TFDMSOS into Exp-II there was a slight, but not significant, increase in UTS. After adding the surfactant to hydrophilic Exp-III, IV and V, the UTS decreased slightly, but not significantly, compared to Exp-II. After addition of cross-linking agent (TFDMSOS) there was a significant increase in elongation-at-break of Exp-II compared to the control (Exp-I), which was further significantly increased after incorporating the surfactant (Rhodasurf CET-2) in the Exp hydrophilic VPS formulations (Exp-III, IV and V). Elongationat-break was significantly increased after incorporating the surfactant (Rhodasurf CET-2) in the Exp hydrophilic VPS formulations (Exp-III, IV and V) compared to Exp-II. Conclusion: All Exp VPS had significantly higher % elongation-at-break (more than double) than commercial VPS. Percentage elongation-at-break further increased significantly after adding Rhodasurf CET-2 (Surfactant).&nbsp

Experimental hydrophilic vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression materials incorporating a novel surfactant compared with commercial VPS

This PhD was partially funded by National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, and therefore we thank the authorities at NUST

A rapid and sensitive method to detect siRNA-mediated mRNA cleavage in vivo using 5′ RACE and a molecular beacon probe

Specific detection of mRNA cleavage by 5′RACE is the only method to confirm the knockdown of mRNA by RNA interference, but is rarely reported for in vivo studies. We have combined 5′-RNA-linker-mediated RACE (5′-RLM-RACE) with real-time PCR using a molecular beacon to develop a rapid and specific method termed MBRACE, which we have used to detect small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-induced cleavage of ApoB, RRM1 and YBX1 transcripts in vitro, and ApoB in vivo. When RNA from siRNA-transfected cells was used for 5′-RLM-RACE and a cleavage site-specific molecular beacon probe was included in subsequent real-time PCR analysis, the specific mRNA cleavage product was detected. Detection of siRNA-mediated cleavage was also observed when RNA from mouse liver following administration of ApoB-specific siRNA was analysed, even in cases where ApoB knockdown measured by real-time PCR was <10%. With its sensitivity and specificity, this variation on the 5′RACE method should prove a useful tool to detect mRNA cleavage and corroborate knockdown studies following siRNA use in vivo

Rationale and design of the PeriOperative ISchemic Evaluation-3 (POISE-3): a randomized controlled trial evaluating tranexamic acid and a strategy to minimize hypotension in noncardiac surgery

Background For patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, bleeding and hypotension are frequent and associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular complications. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent with the potential to reduce surgical bleeding; however, there is uncertainty about its efficacy and safety in noncardiac surgery. Although usual perioperative care is commonly consistent with a hypertension-avoidance strategy (i.e., most patients continue their antihypertensive medications throughout the perioperative period and intraoperative mean arterial pressures of 60 mmHg are commonly accepted), a hypotension-avoidance strategy may improve perioperative outcomes. Methods The PeriOperative Ischemic Evaluation (POISE)-3 Trial is a large international randomized controlled trial designed to determine if TXA is superior to placebo for the composite outcome of life-threatening, major, and critical organ bleeding, and non-inferior to placebo for the occurrence of major arterial and venous thrombotic events, at 30 days after randomization. Using a partial factorial design, POISE-3 will additionally determine the effect of a hypotension-avoidance strategy versus a hypertension-avoidance strategy on the risk of major cardiovascular events, at 30 days after randomization. The target sample size is 10,000 participants. Patients ≥45 years of age undergoing noncardiac surgery, with or at risk of cardiovascular and bleeding complications, are randomized to receive a TXA 1 g intravenous bolus or matching placebo at the start and at the end of surgery. Patients, health care providers, data collectors, outcome adjudicators, and investigators are blinded to the treatment allocation. Patients on ≥ 1 chronic antihypertensive medication are also randomized to either of the two blood pressure management strategies, which differ in the management of patient antihypertensive medications on the morning of surgery and on the first 2 days after surgery, and in the target mean arterial pressure during surgery. Outcome adjudicators are blinded to the blood pressure treatment allocation. Patients are followed up at 30 days and 1 year after randomization. Discussion Bleeding and hypotension in noncardiac surgery are common and have a substantial impact on patient prognosis. The POISE-3 trial will evaluate two interventions to determine their impact on bleeding, cardiovascular complications, and mortality. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03505723. Registered on 23 April 2018

X-Ray microtomography (XMT) to observe penetration depth of high contrast bonding agent into sound dentine

This is a novel study on imaging of high contrast bonding agent penetration depth into dentine. A drop of each primer and sealer (Adper Scotchbond Multipurpose) was scanned with XMT. High contrast primer was developed by incorporation with iodine and tin methacrylate (SnM) respectively. A drop of each primer and sealer with contrast solution was scanned and the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) from the XMT images was recorded. Four molar teeth were treated with 37% phosphoric acid. In group 1, the teeth were applied with primer incorporated with iodine and sealer incorporated with SnM. In Group 2, primer and sealer incorporated with SnM were used respectively. The penetration depth of primer was measured and sealing of dentine with sealer was observed in XMT images. Primer containing iodine showed penetration depth from 30-300µm in sound dentine but only 30-35µm penetration depth was found with primer added with SnM. Complete, homogenous sealing of dentine was found with sealer containing SnM. Primer with iodine suggests more penetration in tubules than primer with SnM. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of Biomedical and Advanced Materials (Biocam 2017)

Antitumor activity of Pogostemon benghalensis Linn. on ehrlich ascites carcinoma tumor bearing mice

Background: Pogostemon benghalensis has been used traditionally as anticancer in India. Aim of the Study: The present study was undertaken to investigate the antitumor activity of hydroethanolic extract of P. benghalensis (HEEPB) and aqueous extract of P. benghalensis (AEPB) on ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor bearing mice. Materials and Methods: For antitumor effect, treatments with HEEPB and AEPB at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg/day orally were started after 24 h of intraperitoneal inoculation of EAC cells. After the treatment period, median survival time (MST), hematological parameters and solid tumor volume were used to evaluate antitumor activity of the extracts. Results: Both, HEEPB and AEPB, have increased MST (P < 0.05), reduced solid tumor volume (P < 0.05) and normalized hematological parameters (P < 0.05) significantly. Conclusion: As HEEPB and AEPB were effective in reducing the severity of morphological and biochemical parameters induced by EAC cells, this study justifies the traditional use of this plant in cancer

Acute Psychosis as Main Manifestation of Central Pontine Myelinolysis

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is an acute demyelinating neurological disorder affecting primarily the central pons and is frequently associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia. Common clinical manifestations of CPM include spastic quadriparesis, dysarthria, pseudobulbar palsy, and encephalopathy of various degrees; however, coma, “locked-in” syndrome, or death can occur in most severe cases. Rarely, CPM presents with neuropsychiatric manifestations, such as personality changes, acute psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, or catatonia, typically associated with additional injury to the brain, described as extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM). We present a patient with primarily neuropsychiatric manifestations of CPM, in the absence of focal neurologic deficits or radiographic extrapontine involvement. A 51-year-old female without significant medical history presented with dizziness, frequent falls, diarrhea, generalized weakness, and weight loss. Physical examination showed no focal neurological deficits. Laboratory data showed severe hyponatremia, which was corrected rather rapidly. Subsequently, the patient developed symptoms of an acute psychotic illness. Initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable, although a repeat MRI two weeks later revealed changes compatible with CPM. This case demonstrates that acute psychosis might represent the main manifestation of CPM, especially in early stages of the disease, which should be taken into consideration when assessing patients with acute abnormalities of sodium metabolism

Features and networks of the mandible on computed tomography

The mandible or lower jaw is the largest and hardest bone in the human facial skeleton. Fractures of the mandible are reported to be a common facial trauma in emergency medicine and gaining insights into mandibular morphology in different facial types can be helpful for trauma treatment. Furthermore, features of the mandible play an important role in forensics and anthropology for identifying gender and individuals. Thus, discovering hidden information of the mandible can benefit interdisciplinary research. Here, for the first time, a method of artificial intelligence-based nonlinear dynamics and network analysis are used for discovering dissimilar and similar radiographic features of mandibles between male and female subjects. Using a public dataset of 10 computed tomography scans of mandibles, the results suggest a difference in the distribution of spatial autocorrelation between genders, uniqueness in network topologies among individuals and shared values in recurrence quantification